The Beauty in Letting Go: Uttana Shishosana
Autumn has a beautiful way of showing us that its time to let go and wave goodbye to what no longer serves us. As we watch the trees shift shades, casting off their leaves, we get a lesson in the art of letting go. It's all about conserving energy, ditching the extra baggage and embracing change. By following nature's rhythm, we can open ourselves up, ready to receive the vital nutrients that keep our mind and body healthy and our hearts light.
Since we’re humans and perhaps a bit more complicated than our tree friends, we have a little extra step in releasing the old.
To let go, we must first acknowledge and feel our emotional experiences. Our experiences want to be seen, heard and nurtured. Only then can they be sequenced and released from the physical and emotional body. As the esteemed psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung once noted, "what you resist not only persists, but will grow in size." By easing our resistance and allowing our emotions to flow, we grant ourselves permission to let go and create the much-needed space for emotional healing and growth.
This is hard stuff! But our yoga practice can be a true ally as it provides guidance and support in navigating our emotional landscape. I want to share one of my favorite “let it go” yoga asanas, great for opening the heart and releasing stuck emotional energy.
Uttana Shishosana, also known as Extended Puppy Pose, is a restorative posture that benefits the physical and emotional body. As you settle into this pose, you may feel a nice stretch and opening through your legs, hips, spine and upper back. It is an excellent way to alleviate stress, body tension, lower blood pressure and facilitate mindful breathing. Take a look at the invitation below to discover how to fully embrace the benefits of Extended Puppy Pose.
Before I leave you to your practice, I invite you this season to take a deep breath and let your soul be nourished by all the goodness around you. Its there if you open up to it, I promise. Embrace the change and create the much deserved space in your heart for the good to grow. Let me know how your practice goes! Talk soon.
Let’s try it out…..
From child's pose or tabletop, bring your knees hip distance apart. Ankles in line with your knees.
Walk your fingertips forward and bring your chest toward the mat. You may release your forehead to the ground, a block or a pillow.
Allow your hips and tailbone to lift high up toward the ceiling, opening up through the chest and extending through the fingertips.
Relax for as many breaths as feels good for you before slowly coming back into child’s pose or tabletop.
Want to take it up a notch? Try pairing this heart opening posture with an affirmation. Perhaps, “I release” or “I am at peace.”
**If you have any shoulder, hip or knee injuries, please use caution or consult with your doctor first.
